A Challenging Time for Israel

Dear AJC Friend, To state the painfully obvious, these are exceedingly challenging times. The Israeli military is fighting a determined and viciously cynical enemy that created a state within a state in Lebanon and, courtesy of Iran and Syria, accumulated 13,000 missiles and rockets and other sophisticated military equipment. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been forced to leave their homes and live as internal refugees because of the relentless attacks on northern towns and villages by Hezbollah terrorists (not, in that outrageous media term, "militants"). Israeli soldiers and civilians alike have been killed and wounded; homes have been damaged or destroyed; the economy has been affected; and tourism in the North has come to an abrupt halt.  Meanwhile, we are once again reminded of the centrality of the United States to Israel's quest for peace and security. Left to their own devices, the international community would likely have pressured Israel to stop the attack against Hezbollah, allowing the terror group to continue to pose an existential threat both to Israel and Lebanon. After all, it is precisely that same international community that failed to ensure the fulfillment of UN Security Council Resolution 1559, which calls for the dismantling of militias in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, and that allowed UNIFIL to devolve into the hopelessly ineffective force it has become. It is the United States, above all, that has understood the significance of Israel's decision, after years of restraint, to inflict a body blow on Hezbollah. And it is the United States that has grasped that Israel's war is not a "private" war, but rather one with regional and global significance. Hezbollah and its patrons, Iran and Syria, left unchallenged, pose a clear and present danger to any hope for regional stability, much less peacemaking. And, of course, one doesn't have to be paranoid to see how many in the media seem to have long since forgotten the reason why Israel first launched its offensive against Hezbollah, and are now primarily focused on portraying Israel as the "aggressor" and Lebanese civilians as the heartrending victims, while moving toward a moral equivalence between democratic Israel and demonic Hezbollah. I mourn the loss of innocent life, whether in Israel or Lebanon. But there is an inescapable context. Israel was the target of unprovoked Hezbollah aggression on July 12, when eight Israeli soldiers were killed and two were kidnapped on Israeli soil. Hezbollah, in lobbing scores of missiles per day at Israel, is seeking the maximum possible destruction. For them, the more civilians killed the better. Israeli deaths are met with jubilation. Israel, on the other hand, is seeking to avoid civilian deaths, going so far as to alert Hezbollah of impending raids by dropping leaflets on areas urging civilians to leave before IDF attacks. But Israel faces an enemy that hides behind civilians, inserts itself into densely populated areas, uses individual family homes to store missiles, and knows that television cameras will come speedily to any site of Israeli attack-so the more poignant the scenes of civilian casualties, the more Hezbollah's interests are served in capturing sympathy not only from the Arab street, but also from those around the world who look for any pretext to vilify Israel and presume its guilt. What can we do under these trying circumstances? Israelis, of course, are bearing the brunt of the challenge. It is they who are fighting in the dangerous terrain of Lebanon, as well as in Gaza. It is they who are worrying day and night about their loved ones in uniform. It is they who are finding temporary shelter in hotels, tent cities, or others' homes. It is they whose lives are disrupted several times a day by the need to rush to bomb shelters, or even to live there round-the-clock. It is they who have to comfort their young children, who may not fully grasp what's going on. It is they who have to wonder if peace will ever be possible, when even full withdrawals from Lebanon and Gaza appear to stimulate hunger in Israel's adversaries for still more. And it is they who have to listen to the chattering classes in distant-and secure-salons and studios lecturing Israel on the importance of making peace and avoiding "disproportionate" force. There are at least three things we can do. First, if you haven't already done so, please consider a contribution to AJC's Israel Emergency Assistance Fund. We've already begun distributing the money received, with our first allocations going for AJC "solidarity vans" that are traveling in the north to bring emergency first-aid kits, diapers, toys, and other essential items to those who are in need. Our Israel office is coordinating the project in cooperation with local municipalities and relief groups. Other grants from our fund will be made in the coming days. As a reminder, consistent with past practice, all funds received will be distributed for their intended purpose. AJC will absorb the administrative costs. Second, consider joining us for our Second Solidarity Mission to Israel (the first took place last month), which will begin in Jerusalem on Monday, September 4th and end on the evening of September 7th. Further information can be obtained from Shula Bahat at bahats@ajc.org. It will be a very special trip, allowing us to express our solidarity with Israel and Israelis in a meaningful way, while learning more about the situation so that we can become still better and more informed advocates.  Based on our last visit, I can tell you how much a visit at this time means. And third, please take just a minute and visit our Web site (www.ajc.org) to send letters to three world leaders who count in the current crisis. Our voices need to be heard. The time to raise our voices is now. AJC, your organization, is doing whatever we can-on the diplomatic, political, intergroup, and media fronts-to help the world understand Israel's position. We have mobilized all the resources of this agency-locally, nationally, and globally-to do so. Be assured that we shall continue to do everything possible during these immensely trying times. With appreciation and best wishes. David Harris

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